Hoya australis Lisa

Hoya australis Lisa, also known as the wax plant, is a popular houseplant prized for its beautifully coloured, fleshy leaves. It belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), and the species is native to Australia, New Guinea and other parts of the southwestern Pacific. The cultivar Lisa is particularly valued for its striking variegation and the attractive colour changes of its young leaves.

The plant produces long, flexible shoots that can be allowed to trail or trained onto a support. The leaves are thick, leathery and glossy, with irregular markings in shades of green, cream, yellow and pink. Young leaves are often strongly pink to red and gradually develop their characteristic green and cream colouring. Each leaf can have a slightly different pattern, giving the plant a colourful and lively appearance.

The flowers appear in rounded clusters and have the characteristic star-shaped form of hoyas. They are white to cream with pink to red centres and have a pleasant sweet fragrance. Under good conditions, the wax plant can flower repeatedly from the same flower spurs, so these should not be removed after flowering.

Hoya australis Lisa is an easy-to-grow houseplant suitable for container cultivation. It grows best in a bright location with filtered light, which helps maintain the attractive colouring of its leaves. Grow it in an airy, well-drained substrate and water after the substrate has partially dried out. Reduce watering during winter and protect the plant from cold temperatures. Thanks to its beautifully coloured leaves, pink young growth and fragrant flowers, Hoya australis Lisa is a particularly attractive wax plant that looks beautiful both as a trailing plant and when trained to climb.